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The Ultimate Guide to Harmonicas for Curious Newbies

If you’re like most of us…

Your first contact with a harmonica (or harp as it’s often called) was probably when you were still a kid.

For some reason, we often gift them to children as a toy, maybe because it’s small, maybe because it’s cheap or maybe because toy stores actually sell them…

Therefore contributing to the idea that harmonicas are not “REAL” instruments…

But if you’re reading this article you probably know that this is all obviously incorrect.

Oddly enough, those same characteristics are also exactly what make harmonicas such great instruments…

So if you want to learn more about this cool and versatile little instrument…

You’ve come to the right place as I have in today’s post everything you need to know to get started with the harmonica.

Sounds good?

Then let’s start. First up…

The Ultimate Guide to Snare Drums: How to Get That Perfect Sound

Ask any drummer what the most precious element of his kit is and chances are they’ll tell you it’s the snare.

Why? Well…

Look at it this way:

Imagine you were playing a gig and suddenly your whole kit broke apart, leaving you with only ONE element (which would suck, I agree), which one would you prefer to have left?

The snare, most probably, because you can play :

The upbeat,
The backbeat…
And fill everything in between with it, which undoubtedly makes it the most versatile element of the kit.

And while this can be discussed, the truth is it is not uncommon to see drummers travel with only their snare(s) when touring, which they use with whatever drumkit is available at their next venue.

Some drummers like to keep different models on hand and some even play with several at the same time, to alternate sounds.

So even when budget is tight, drummers NEVER skimp on the snare choice, even if it means acquiring a lower quality drumset.

So…

How do you choose the right snare for your playing? And how do you get that perfect snare sound? Well these are the questions I’ll try to answer in today’s article.

Sounds good?

Then let’s start.

The Ultimate Guide to Cymbals: Hi-hats, Rides, Crashes, and Effects

Whether you’ve been playing for years…

Or you’ve just recently started to outgrow your first kit…

The time eventually comes…

When you get just a little too familiar with the cymbals you’ve been playing…

And you want something new, either as an upgrade, or possibly just a change of flavor.

But unless you’ve got a lot of drummer friends, or you work at the local music store…

Chances are you’ve been exposed to WAY LESS cymbals than you really should be…

In order to make a well-informed decision on this next addition to your kit. Correct?

And so for today’s article, I’ve created an in-depth tutorial to show you the very best of what’s out there…

So that buy the end of this post, you’ll know with certainty that the next cymbal you buy will be the right one.

The Best Bass Amps for Newbies and Advanced Players

There’s just something special about a bass amp…

Because, when you think about it, it actually has the ability to raise your playing… Or let it crash completely.

You might own a great bass, but play it through a crappy amp and I guarantee it WILL sound bad…

Now, play an average/entry level bass through a good amp and I guarantee it WILL sound 10 times better.

Which is why it is generally recommended you spend more money on your amp than on your bass when starting.

And the fact that the absolute overwhelming majority of bass guitars are electric — as opposed to acoustic guitars being probably just as popular as electric ones — is why there are nowadays some really great amps out there.

And so to sort through all these models, I decided for today’s post to create a list of the best combos AND amp heads around.

Guitar Tabs: When You Should Stop Using Them…and WHY

When you first start playing guitar…

And your buddy shows you those amazing “cheat codes” known as guitar tabs…

And you see how quick and easy it can be to kinda-sorta play something resembling an actual song you know…

You feel like it’s the answer you’ve been searching for.

And for quite a while…it actually is.

You learn a bunch of new songs that you could have never figured out on your own.
You can almost play them from beginning to end.
And all your friends think you’re super cool.

And when a stranger asks if you play guitar…

You ALMOST feel comfortable…to simply answer YES, and leave it at that.

However…

Somewhere deep down, there’s still that nagging voice in your head…that keeps reminding you:

You still don’t REALLY know what you’re doing…NOT YET. [Read more…] about Guitar Tabs: When You Should Stop Using Them…and WHY